Hilary Duff to star in new NBC show

Actress signs development deal with network

Hilary Duff is returning to TV, signing a pact with NBC to star in a new series.

Under terms of the one-year talent and development deal, Peacock will develop a show starring Duff; thesp will also be tapped to guest star in various current NBC shows.

The Duff series would be produced by Universal Media Studios. Deal was announced by NBC Entertainment/ Universal Media Studios co-chairman Ben Silverman.

Duff will meet with writers and comb through the Peacock’s development for the right project to star in.

Duff starred in a 2004 CBS pilot that wasn’t picked up to series; since then, she’s focused on her music and movie careers. The actress starred in this year’s “War, Inc.,” and will next be seen in the 2009 features “Safety Glass,” “Stay Cool” and “Greta.”

She first rose to fame as the star of the Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire” (which later spawned “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”). She then appeared in features such as “Agent Cody Banks,” “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Raise Your Voice.”

In signing Duff, NBC Entertainment exec VP Teri Weinberg cited the thesp’s “huge following” and versatility as a young talent. As a singer, Duff’s album “Metamorphosis” sold more than 2 million copies and spawned several hit singles.